31 March
7:40 P.M., EASTER SUNDAY, 31 March 2002
An Easter Prayer
O gracious God,
give some meaning
to this existence!
Source: Eeva Kilpi, Elämää kaikki päivät [Life Every Day], WSOY, 2022. Translated by Living in FIN
A Beloved Poet’s Snapshots over Four Decades
How can one be old when one has only just learned to be young?
Life Every Day contains Eeva Kilpi’s diary entries from the 1980s to the 2000s. “One must appreciate the beauty of everyday language,” the author reminds herself as she tirelessly jots down her observations. She examines intergenerational relationships, aging and time, longing and loneliness, creativity and remembrance while never forgetting her overarching leitmotifs of peace and nature conservation: “One good deed for nature every day.”
The poet fearlessly confronts a changing world and engages in dialogue with it time and again:
“You are not alone, you are not alone,” the birds sing in the silence of the night, and I wish to accept this assurance from them alone.
Eeva Kilpi (b. 1928) is a writer and poet living in Espoo. Her widely translated works include novels, short story and poetry collections, and an autobiographical trilogy. One of Kilpi’s best-known works is Elämä edestakaisin (1964), in which she examines the lives of displaced persons. In addition to her depictions of persons displaced from Karelia, Kilpi is also known for her reflections on human relationships and nature. She has been a trailblazer in depicting sexuality and aging. She has been honored for her multifaceted and socially conscious body of work with awards such as the SKS Prize and the Pro Carelia Medal.
Source: Adlibris. Translated by Living in FIN
Living in FIN 